Consumers
9/1/2008
This month, PreventInfection.org focuses its attention on a new DVD being shown in hospital waiting rooms across the nation that empowers patients to speak up about hand hygiene while in a healthcare facility.
With all the news about MRSA and other serious infections, and reports that many healthcare workers do not wash their hands often enough while on duty, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Safe Care Campaign have come together to offer a new DVD that empowers patients to ask their healthcare workers to wash their hands and illustrates how to construct such a dialogue with them.
"Hand Hygiene Saves Lives" is being shown to hospital patients across the country. Modeled after the video airline passengers are required to view prior to take-off on a flight, the goal of the campaign is to teach patients before admission what they can do to help prevent the spread of infection and to encourage them to ask or remind their healthcare workers to practice hand hygiene. It is hoped that this resource will empower patients to take a more active role in their own health and help families protect their loved ones during a hospital stay.
The DVD begins with an introduction of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) by John Jernigan, MD, a medical epidemiologist at the CDC. It is then narrated by a nurse character named Gayle who talks about the importance of hand hygiene for both patients and healthcare workers. There are several role-plays that illustrate how patients and families can politely and assertively ask doctors and other healthcare professionals to clean their hands.
"Hand Hygiene Saves Lives" DVDs, posters and brochures are available free of charge in both English and Spanish. For information on ordering or to download materials, visit www.cdc.gov/handhygiene.
